Thursday, February 01, 2007

First and 10 for Alabama

It's the start of a new day for Alabama football. For the first time in 15 years, the Crimson Tide is free and clear of NCAA investigations and sanctions. When the clock struck midnight Wednesday, it marked the end of a forgettable era that started the night after the team won the national championship at the 1993 Sugar Bowl, a 34-13 victory against Miami. All-American cornerback Antonio Langham admitted signing with an agent on a cocktail napkin, but returned to play his season season. The NCAA announced sanctions in 1995, including lost scholarships, forfeited games and three years' probation, but Alabama appealed the penalties and won. An alleged 1998 incident involving the basketball program extended the Crimson Tide's repeat-violator period, only to be followed by booster Logan Young, who allegedly paid approximately $150,000 to a prep coach to influence defensive tackle Albert Means to accept a Crimson Tide scholarship offer. Alabama was cited for 22 penalties and paid dearly. The team was handed a two-year bowl ban, lost 21 scholarships over a three-year period and given five years of probation. Although many of the parties involved in the latest scandal have kept a low profile, some continue to fight to clear their name. The constant hounding from the NCAA didn't mean the end to football, and now big things are expected from new coach Nick Saban, who refused to apologize Wednesday for using the word "coonass" in an off-the-record conversation that found its way onto the Internet.

Bama is a repeat offender and you're whining more about the punishment than about why you were put on probation in the first place. That kind of delusion and arrogance is most of the reason why you were hit so hard by the NCAA.